Anna Hazare plugs party-less democracy in blog

Advocating the need for rejecting the concept of party-based governments, Anna Hazare on Tuesday pitched for state funding in election campaigns and depositing money collected by the parties in treasuries.

In a new blog posting, the Gandhian said this will help in curbing money power enjoyed by parties and subsequently ensure that only honest and clean candidates win elections by trumping corrupt candidates put up by parties.

"The time has come that people in the country should wake up and organise themselves and reject any government based on party. For this, there is a need for amending laws and strictly enforcing it," the anti-corruption crusader said.

He said there was a need to organise people at the national level and put pressure on government to achieve electoral reforms.

"The government should fully fund electoral expenses and make parties deposit its money in treasury. This is the money of people. There is a need to organise a national movement for ensuring this goal. If this happens then there will be control on money power of parties," he said.

The septuagenarian activist was of the view that if money power is weakened, then the common man's voice will be heard and people will not allow corrupt candidates to emerge victorious.

"If that is the case, then no one will have to hold a protest, or take out a march or go on a fast," the veteran activist said.

Hazare said he will tour the country in the next 18 months and expects the participation of youth in his movement.

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